subsequent

Pronunciation

• IPA: UK /ˈsʌb.sɪ.kwənt/, /ˈsʌb.sə.kwənt/, US /ˈsʌb.sɪ.kwənt/^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Middle French subséquent and directly borrowed from Latin subsequēns (“following closely”),^[2][3][4] the present participle of subsequī (“to follow closely, come after”),^[3][2] from sub- (“closely, up to”) and sequī (“to follow”),^[3][2] from Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- (“to follow”).^[3] See sequel.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Coming after, following in order: about 1450 in Barnhart, before 1460 in the OED, the mid-15th century in Etymonline.^[2][5][3]

Semantic evolution

Following in time, later, is from 1503–04,^[5] and subsequent to, after, from 1647.^[5] The Latin verb could also mean “to imitate, conform to”.^[3] In physical geography a subsequent stream is one that has formed its course along the softer rocks, from 1862.^[5] The noun, a person or thing that follows, is from 1603 and obsolete.^[5]

Timeline

• c. 1450 – following in order.^[2]
• 1503 – following in time.^[5]
• 1647 – subsequent to.^[5]
• 1862 – in geography.^[5]

Modern meaning

Adjective

1. Coming after something else in time or order; following or later.
2. (subsequent to) After.

Word family

• subsequently
• subsequentness

Related words

• sequel
• sequence
• consequent
• sue

References

1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
2. ^ a b c d e f Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
3. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d e f g h Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press